Letters Written by Menno Simon

“You shall rise up before the gray head, and honor the face of the old man,” Leviticus 19, verse 32. [*]

“Look at the example of the old,” Ecclesiasticus 2, verse 11.

“Whatever you hear and accept, keep that in your heart, and you shall have peace,” Laodiceans 1, verse 13. [Note 1]

“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” First Corinthians 3, verse 11.

To all the true children of God and partakers of the Promise of the Kingdom of Christ, grace and peace be with you.

My beloved in Christ Jesus, I am troubled at heart for your sakes, since I hear that you hunger and thirst after righteousness, and that there are so few carvers who rightly cut the bread of the divine word for the hungry consciences; so few shepherds who rightly pasture the sheep of Christ; so few masons to fit the living stones rightly into the temple of the Lord; so few watchmen who rightly watch the city, the new Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet; so few fathers to beget the children of God, and so few to nourish and feed those who are begotten; but that everything is the contrary. For those who truly serve in that capacity do not deny the bread, nor the children to whom it belongs. And if they had the bread by which the soul lives, not so many children would starve while they distribute the bread once or twice a week (understand, the bread needed to support the body). Since they give the eggs of cockatrices to the people, observe what the prophet says concerning them: “He who eats of their eggs dies,” Isaiah 59, verse 5; John 6, verse 58.

Again, concerning the shepherds who pass themselves off as shepherds of Christ, who pasture the sheep for their own sakes, as Ezekiel 34, verse 8 says: for you see how little they care for the sheep; they do not care whether they have pasture or not. If they only get the wool and the milk, they are satisfied. They pass themselves off as shepherds, but they are deceivers; for they are widely different from the shepherds of whom we read in Jeremiah, shepherds after his heart, whom the Holy Spirit has sent. For they do not have the love of Christ which Peter had, and therefore Christ has not commanded them to pasture his lambs. If they are not commanded to do so, that is, if they are not sent, how then can they preach? For they are not divine shepherds who lead the sheep into the green pastures of the divine word, but they let them starve. They are not the shepherds who lead them to the clear waters, but they lead them to the stagnant pools which they have clarified with their feet, that is, by their glosses and good opinions, Ezekiel 34, verse 19. [Note 2]

They also pass themselves off as joiners who build the Lord’s house; but they do not know Christ, the cornerstone. They never fitted a stone into the house of the Lord, that is, of the living stones which are built into a spiritual building, which building is the church of God, Hebrews 3, verse 6. For wherever there are two or three stones together, joined by the mortar of love, there they busy themselves to break them down and destroy them, as you may see confirmed in all countries and cities. O, how different they are from those of whom Paul says, “You are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building,” and we are God’s laborers, namely, such as should build the house of the Lord according to his word, First Corinthians 3, verse 9.

If, then, they are not builders, they must be those who break down. They also pretend to be the husbandmen who take care of the vineyard. How they take care of it and protect it against all wild animals, I will leave every Christian to consider for himself. How they seek the profit of the Lord of the vineyard, and how they give him the interest or honor, the Lord of the vineyard knows. He also knows how they scourge, rob, hunt, banish and kill his children for no other reason than that they neither do nor dare consent to them, since they see that they are not the true husbandmen, but destroyers, Matthew 10, verse 17; Matthew 21, verse 34.

Yet they pass themselves off as watchmen. If they are watchmen, they are blind watchmen and dumb dogs that cannot bark, Isaiah 56, verse 10. Hosea the prophet shows what they watch for and how they blow the trumpet, Hosea, chapter 4. How far they are from the word of the Lord, which says, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman,” Ezekiel 3, verse 17; “Lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression,” Isaiah 58, verse 1.

They want to be fathers who bring forth the children of God and nourish them. But how can they beget children when they have never rightly conceived? O, how different they are from the fathers of whom Paul speaks: “You do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel,” First Corinthians 4, verse 15; “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you,” Galatians 4, verse 19. Here observe who are the fathers of the true children. Now show me one child they have begotten, namely, one child that was born of God through the gospel. Paul also says, “I have fed you with milk,” First Corinthians 3, verse 2, “even as a nurse cherishes her children,” First Thessalonians 2, verse 7.

See, sincerely beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, you will observe that you have few carvers who cut the sweet bread, but it is leaven that they give you; that they are not shepherds who pasture the sheep, but wolves that destroy them; that they are not builders who build the temple, but they break down what was built; that they are not husbandmen who protect the vineyard of the Lord and give him his rent, but they are false husbandmen who scourge, stone, torture and kill the servants, as you, alas, may plainly see; that they are not the watchmen who watch over the city of Jerusalem and warn her of the enemy, but they betray the citizens and kill them; that they are not fathers nor nurses, but they kill what was begotten and nourished, as Pharaoh, king of Egypt, killed the true Israelites he could lay hold of. Therefore it is necessary to separate from them and shun them, as we read in Matthew 7, verse 15: “Beware of false prophets”; and Paul says, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ,” Colossians 2, verse 8.

The church of Christ is the bride of Christ, and he does not want his bride to conceive except of the incorruptible seed, First Peter 1, verse 23; as Paul says, “I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ,” Second Corinthians 11, verse 2. Indeed, Paul would have the bride or church so pure that if there were any who caused divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which they had learned, they should be avoided. Indeed, if they had any in the church who were drunkards, covetous, fornicators, idolaters or proud, they should avoid them and not eat with them, First Corinthians 5, verse 11. How, then, could they allow such people to preach? Indeed, if anyone preached any other gospel than the one that was preached to them, he should be accursed, Galatians 1, verse 8.

To the Philippians Paul says, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision,” and he says, “Brothers, be followers together of me, and mark those who walk so, as you have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,” Philippians 3, verses 2, 17 and 19. Mark what kind of people he refers to.

The apostle would have the bride so pure that no dissension was allowed, no drunkards, covetous, idolaters, nor those who taught any other doctrine than he taught. And Christ himself says to the church, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves; you shall know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7, verse 15. Therefore I will leave all intelligent Christians to judge what those are doing who say that they are at liberty to do as they do. Shall we, who claim to uphold the glory of God, grant it as a liberty to go where God is blasphemed and his ordinances broken? Aaron was commanded to serve in the priest’s office. When Dathan and Abiram would serve as such, why did the earth open its mouth and swallow them, if it was free to them? Numbers 16, verse 32. The sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, were always to let the fire burn on the altar. If it were allowed, then, to put strange fire upon it, why were they burned? Leviticus 10, verses 1 and 3.

Read how the worshipers of the calf, the murmurers and the fornicators all received their punishment, Exodus, chapter 32; Numbers 21, verses 5 and 6; Numbers 25, verses 8 and 9. Indeed, the man of God at Bethel: how free was it to him, when God had told him that he should not eat bread nor drink water in that place, and through the lies of the old prophet he ate and drank contrary to God’s command? It was so free that he had to die for it, First Kings, chapter 13.

There are very many Scriptures on that point, which I will leave for the sake of brevity. But I would have every Christian do as Christ teaches us, saying, “Search the Scriptures,” John 5, verse 39. Those of Berea searched the Scriptures daily, Acts 17, verse 11.

If you search the Scripture you will learn from it that if you would be a member of the holy body of Christ, you must follow the Head and obey him, John 3, verse 36; Second Thessalonians 1, verse 8.

If he commands you to beware of false prophets, are you then at liberty either to do so or not? What kind of officers would you be if the emperor issued a decree and the subjects disregarded it (taking it as a liberty), and you did not punish them for disregarding it?

Now the chief Emperor (Christ) has issued a decree, which he has sealed with his blood; and in this decree it reads that we must be born again, repent, deny ourselves, take up the cross, believe on Jesus Christ, and on our faith be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and obey his commandments, Matthew 28, verse 19; that we must “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”; love the Lord with all our heart and with all our strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves; not live for ourselves, but for him who died for us and rose again; “beware of false prophets,” and “abstain from all appearance of evil,” Matthew 22, verse 21; Luke 10, verse 27; Second Corinthians 5, verse 15; Matthew 7, verse 15; First Thessalonians 5, verse 22.

Now say, most beloved, which of these are we at liberty to do or not to do? Are we at liberty to be born again or not? Are we at liberty to deny ourselves, or to believe on Christ, or not? To be baptized, to give to Caesar what is due him and to God what is his, to beware of false prophets, and to abstain from all appearance of evil, or not? If we are at liberty to observe these or not, just as we see fit, why then does the Lord Jesus say at the conclusion, And teach them to keep my commandments? Matthew 28, verse 19. If, now, he has commanded it, he desires it to be obeyed. What is free is neither commanded nor forbidden, as Paul says in regard to eating and the keeping of certain days, First Corinthians 10, verse 28. Yet he commands us not to offend the brothers by such liberty.

Now, beloved children, if you confess that Christ Jesus is the Son in his house, then let him be wise enough to rule; for he has bought this house with his blood and has set the bondmen free. Some he has made pastors and teachers, and Paul teaches us how they should be minded. If you go to the papistic teachers, whom you know beforehand are not sent by Christ and therefore bear no fruit, are you then obedient to the voice of the Lord? O, no. Ephesians 4, verse 11; First Timothy, chapter 3; Romans 10, verse 15.

Since the Holy Spirit directs us to those who are blameless, and you go to those who are blameworthy both in doctrine and in life; and since Christ has commanded us to beware of such, and you go to hear them, saying, I am at liberty—therefore judge for yourselves whether you are a child of God or not. And if you say in this way that you are at liberty, then I ask you, Who gave you this liberty? Paul says, “You are not your own, for you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s,” First Corinthians 6, verse 19. By what means, then, can you obtain this liberty?

Christ Jesus has also commanded his church to baptize believers on the confession of their faith. If I, now, do not believe, and do not let myself be baptized in accordance with God’s word, but let my little children be baptized without God’s word, am I then obedient to the voice of the Lord? Can I then inherit the promise given to those who believe?

Christ ordained in his church the Holy Supper, bread and wine, in remembrance of his death; now it has been changed into Roman merchandise. Is a Christian now allowed to keep the perplexing papal day-meal and neglect the Lord’s Supper? Judge for yourselves, since Paul says, “You cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the table of devils,” First Corinthians 10, verse 21. If we cannot partake of both, then we must neglect one or the other. O, beware of them!

See, beloved children, I have given you here some instruction according to the limited talents which the Lord has given me. Judge whether it would be becoming for a married woman to be with another man, even if it were only once a year. So, if you are the bride of the Lamb, then you are not allowed to conceive by anyone but by Christ and his holy word. If you are the body of Christ, then you must have the Spirit of Christ; if you are baptized into the body by the Spirit, then you must be obedient to the Head, which is Christ. If you are in the city, the New Jerusalem, whose citizens are of one mind, then you must be obedient to the King of that great city, namely, to Christ. If you are the branches, then you must bear fruit like that of the vine. If you are the vineyard of the Lord, then beware of the foxes. If you are the temple of the Lord, then you must be submissive to your High Priest. If you are the ark of the covenant, then the tables of the covenant, which are written with the finger of God, namely, the commandments of God, must be engraved in your hearts, so that all men may read that you are an epistle of Christ, Second Corinthians 3, verses 2 and 3.

O beloved children, if only the Lord would grant that we might speak together face to face, we trust that we could satisfy you on all points. Therefore you who fear God, separate from Babel and go to Jerusalem, and do not let yourselves be ensnared by such light-minded, artful words as, “I am at liberty.” The drunkard may drink to excess, the gambler gamble, the whoremonger indulge his carnal passions, although it is sin; likewise we are at liberty to hear false doctrine or to let infants be baptized, yet it is unscriptural, and therefore sin. I herewith commend my beloved children to the Lord. May the rich Word of his grace enlighten you with his pure knowledge and grant that you do his will in all things, so that the fallen temple may be built again upon its true foundation, and that we may obtain the end of faith, that is, the salvation of souls. Amen.

MENNO SIMON.

November 14.

“O man, what! Are you joyful? What! You are dust and shadow! Proud, for your life lies buried in death!”

“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” First Corinthians 3, verse 11.

Mercy, grace and peace be to you. The Lord said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die,” John 11, verse 25. Chosen brothers and sisters in the Lord, since I hear that the fire of pestilence is raging around you, I am constrained by the love I bear to you and to all the pious—for I am aware that all flesh is frightened of death, and that the death of friends is hard to our natural feelings—to write to you, who are overshadowed by the heavenly light and called into the communion of Christ, a short epistle of consolation, so that you may now and at all times diligently watch for the coming of the Lord, and prepare your whole life, heart, mind and actions for death. For Paul says, “It is appointed to men once to die,” Hebrews 9, verse 27. Sirach also says, “All flesh grows old as a garment; for the covenant from the beginning is, You shall die,” Ecclesiasticus 14, verse 17.

If we, with a new, regenerated and penitent soul, firmly hold to Christ, truly believe his word, faithfully follow his footsteps, are governed by his Holy Spirit, and die to the old, sinful life, indeed, die in every way to the world, the flesh and the devil; if we sincerely seek God’s kingdom, righteousness, word, will, truth, praise and honor, and walk inoffensively in his ways; then we shall live with, in and through him forever, John 11, verse 25, and we shall not be hurt by the second death, Revelation 2, verse 11, even though we were formerly dead in sins like all the others, full of covetousness, unchastity, pride, hatred, envy and idolatry, and were by nature children of wrath, Ephesians 2, verse 3. For to the truly penitent and believing it is all forgiven through the death of Christ; it is paid for by his blood and reconciled by the only peace offering of his innocent, bitter death. So Paul says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death,” Romans 8, verses 1 and 2. Therefore be of good cheer and grateful; praise him who has delivered you by the power of his word from the dominion of sin and death, and has so called you to the inheritance of his glory by the Spirit of his grace. Again I say, give him the praise, and that with a godly, pure conscience and with a blameless, holy life in faith, sound, firm and unblemished in love, living in hope and fervent in prayer, adorned with the raiment of righteousness and girded with the beautiful girdle of perfection in the Spirit; having oil in your lamps, sober and awake, so that when the true Head, the glorious King and Bridegroom of our souls, comes, he may not find you asleep, and because you are not ready, cast you into eternal darkness and close the door upon you, and so give you your part with the hypocrites. I repeat it: be sober and awake; labor while it is day, lest the dark night overtake you. O, reflect on what is meant! Psalm 117, verses 1 and 2; Romans 15, verse 11; Colossians 3, verse 14; First Peter 5, verse 8; John 12, verse 35.

Beloved, faithful brothers, be strong in the Lord, of good cheer, and comforted; for your whole life and death are in the hands of the Lord. Indeed, all your hairs are numbered, and without him not one shall fall from your head; he knows the number of your days; indeed, your life is measured as a handbreadth. Therefore do not fear, but willingly serve one another in time of need. O, do not stop visiting the sick, for by this you shall be established in love, as Sirach says, Ecclesiasticus 7, verse 35. “And it is also the nature of true love to lay down our lives for the brothers,” First John 3, verse 16. Reflect on what I tell you. You are aware of one thing: that an obedient, virtuous son, servant or bride does not fear the coming of the father, lord or bridegroom, but they long for their coming. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,” First John 4, verse 18. You are also aware that a weary laborer longs for rest, and an afflicted soul for consolation. And I have no doubt that my beloved children are sealed in God with a good conscience; that he is your Father and you are his children; that Christ Jesus is your Lord and you are his servants; that he is your bridegroom and you his bride; and that for the sake of his blessed name you will unfeignedly proclaim and teach it to the whole world for doctrine, instruction and reproof, so that they may sincerely repent and be won to God; on account of which you must suffer such excessive misery, trouble, privation and slander from the idle, wicked generation, as may be seen on every hand.

Therefore we should reasonably not be afraid of death, which is but a rest from sin and the entrance into a better life, nor grieve over the friends who have fallen asleep in God, as those do who do not expect the reward of the saints; but we should joyfully lift up our heads, gird our loins with truth, and so be joyfully taken up to the heavenly Canaan with our only and eternal (mark, eternal) Joshua, Christ Jesus, to take the promised inheritance, and so be freed from the laborious, troublesome way of our hard pilgrimage, which we must travel through the rough desert of this wild world as long as we are here; and then we shall rest in eternal peace, Ephesians 6, verse 14; Luke 22, verse 29; Revelation 14, verse 13.

O chosen brothers and sisters! How gloriously gifted by God are those who in grace are delivered from the body of sin and from all perishable things, and are taken up into the holy tabernacles of peace, and called to the eternal, holy sabbath day!

The old, crooked serpent shall no longer sting them in their heels; indeed, no pain or disease shall touch them, and the last enemy, which is death, is already overcome. Their tears are dried, and their souls are at sure rest and peace in the paradise of grace, in Abraham’s bosom, under the altar of God, Revelation 6, verse 9; on Mount Zion, delivered from their great tribulation, clothed in white robes, worshiping before the throne of God and the Lamb, waiting a little while until the number of their brothers is fulfilled, Revelation 6, verse 11, to be fashioned like the glorious body of Christ, Philippians 3, verse 21, to shine forth as the sun, and so joyfully enter into the eternal wedding and feast which is prepared in heaven for all the chosen by the blood and death of Christ.

O, how holy and blessed are those who are called by Christ to this feast and have come to it, clothed in spotless, clean garments! O, sing the pleasing and joyous hallelujah in your hearts, and thank him who has given them all this by the Spirit of his love, in eternal grace, and who has chosen you to enjoy the same part with them!

Reflect and be comforted. No more at present; but sincerely fear God, serve him in truth, uphold unity, love and peace; watch and pray; walk blamelessly; fight your fight patiently; strive after the good; be friendly to one another; willingly submit to your elders and obey them; and remember them and me in your prayers. May the God of peace, our merciful Father, through his blessed Son, Christ Jesus, bless you now and at all times, to more righteousness, in perfect love.

Your brother and lover of your souls in truth; at present in tolerable health.

MENNO SIMON.

November 14.

“The love of God is true wisdom,”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life,” John 3, verse 16.

With a sorrowing and troubled heart I write to you, because a letter was handed to me, signed by five brothers in good standing, from which I learn that a violent dispute has arisen (God amend it) among some of you concerning the ban (excommunication). If I do not misunderstand, one party wants no transgression to be punished with excommunication until the transgressor has been admonished three times. I cannot agree with this doctrine. For there are some sins, for instance, murder, witchcraft, arson, theft and other such criminal deeds, which require summary punishment at the hands of the magistracy. If in such cases we were to admonish transgressors three times before they were punished, then the sweet bread of the church would be changed into sour leaven before the whole world. Therefore act with discretion, and do not treat criminal matters, especially if they are public, the same as you would other carnal works which the world does not regard as requiring disgraceful punishment.

The other party wants, if I understand the matter rightly, all transgressions to be punished with excommunication without any admonition first, and all penance to be outside the church. That doctrine is, according to my humble understanding, erroneous and against the word of Christ, Paul and James. For avarice, pride, hatred, discord, defamation and quarreling are carnal things which work death if not repented of, Galatians 5, verses 19 and 20; James 3, verse 16; yet they are not punished until after three admonitions, as the Scriptures command. I wish it were taken into consideration that, as “the wages of sin is death,” so also the repenting, converted heart brings forth life, as may be seen in the case of David, Peter, the murderer, Zaccheus and others.

I also understand that these same brothers are of the opinion that if some brother should have transgressed secretly in something or other, and in sorrow of heart should complain to one of his brothers that he had so sinned against God, then this same brother should tell it to the church; and if he failed to do so, he should be punished together with the transgressor. This opinion is not only absurd, but it sounds terrible in my ears. For it is clearly against all Scripture and love, Matthew, chapter 18; James 5, verses 19 and 20.

Excommunication was, in one respect, instituted for the purpose of repentance. Now, if repentance is shown, namely, the contrite, sorrowing heart, how then can excommunication be pronounced against such a person? O my brothers, do not put this doctrine into force, for it will lead to sin and not to reformation.

If we were to deal in this way with poor, repenting sinners whose transgressions were done in secret, how many we would keep from repentance through shame! God forbid that I should ever agree with or act upon such doctrine! Lastly, I understand they hold that if anyone transgresses in his weakness and openly acknowledges his transgression, they should then regard him as a worldling.

This again is an absurd doctrine; for if the transgression was done through weakness, then let us not be arrogant and too hard on the poor soul, lest we commit a worse fault.

Not the weak, but the corrupt members are cut off, lest they corrupt the others. I want to be clear of such unscriptural doctrines and practices. I desire that excommunication be practiced in a sincere, fatherly spirit, in faithful love, according to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles, as I have abundantly declared in my writings for over five years.

My chosen brothers, guard against innovations for which you have no certain scriptural grounds. Do not be too severe nor too lenient. Let a fatherly, compassionate, prudent and discreet heart, and the Lord’s holy word, move you.

Follow this my brotherly admonition in this respect, which has been acted upon for twenty-one years. I could give you no other or better advice. I feel constrained to write to you for the reason mentioned above. I have served my beloved brothers in sincerity of heart without any partiality, as becomes us in Christ. I was asked to give the grounds for my doctrine, which I am at all times willing and prepared to do, not to the pious only, but also to the whole world, as the word of the Lord commands me to do. I do not teach or live by the faith of others, but by my own faith. O, that they all were of one mind with me! How fatherly and discreetly excommunication would then be practiced, without any offense; while now it is sometimes practiced so offensively.

I beseech all the pious, for God’s sake, to seek peace. And if you have offended one another in the least, purify your hearts and be reconciled in Christ Jesus. Remember that you are the Lord’s people, called to peace, put under the cross, separated from the world and hated to the death. If you are baptized in one spirit, then fulfill my sincere desire and be of one mind with me in Christ. Build up and do not destroy. Instruct one another in love, and do not disrupt, so that divine peace may be with all the children of God and remain whole with us to eternal life.

May the peaceful Spirit of Christ protect you all. May you be sound in doctrine, ardent in love and without offense in life, to the edification of his church and to the praise of his holy name.

Your unworthy brother and servant,

MENNO SIMON.

November 13th, in the year 1555.

“For no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” First Corinthians 3, verse 11.

With a sorrowful heart I make known to the brothers that I receive one letter after another complaining about the excommunication in regard to husband and wife, which causes great trouble with some; and I am not at all surprised at it. For from the beginning of my service, which is more than twenty years, I have feared this issue, which cannot be settled in such agitation as is at present found in the Netherlands. Dietrich Philip, our brother, and I took counsel with the elders on this matter as far back as 1547, and it was then resolved that we should act in this matter according to circumstances; and it was again so resolved at Wismar two years ago. Therefore we should admonish according to the most definite and plain rules; but if we cannot convince in this way, we should not force anyone beyond what he conscientiously believes to be right, but bear with him in love and patience. I hope that every pious person is sufficiently instructed in the word of the Lord to know that if either a husband or a wife commits adultery, theft, witchcraft or anything else that is criminal, such criminal misconduct is summarily punished at the hands of the magistracy; or to know that if one cannot live up to his faith undisturbed on account of his spouse, but is constantly assailed with false doctrine, beaten and abused, and so is sliding back in faith through the obstacles put up by such a fallen spouse, then he should leave such a spouse, if he would stand before God and the church and save his soul. But if he or she can live up to his or her faith undisturbed in all things, and is not assailed with false doctrine, then they are bound in conscience to remain together undisturbed; for they are one flesh, and live together as husband and wife should live.

Since there are many dangers and offenses connected with this matter of punishing with excommunication souls so bound, who otherwise walk blamelessly before God in every respect, and since we are all flesh, I pray that the merciful Lord may keep me from consenting to or teaching such doctrine. In view of this, my heart was filled with sorrow on hearing that a certain length of time was given to Swaantje Rutgers in which to leave her husband, or that, if she failed to leave him, she was to be excommunicated and delivered over to Satan.

O my chosen brothers, consider your actions well. What slandering words you will put into the mouths of the slanderers! And what bad reports you will spread of the word of the Lord and his church! How many grieved souls you will afflict! Indeed, how many souls you will separate from the truth, and what dangers will beset you! We never dared follow such doctrine, for we fear the consequences. O, that you would desist from it! How I, an afflicted man, would rejoice at it! My heart shall never consent to such indiscreet action, nor say amen to such intentions.

I desire to teach, according to my humble talents, a gospel that builds up and not one that breaks down; one that is acceptable and not one that is offensive; and I do not intend to burden the service of God with something troublesome for which I have no scriptural grounds. I can neither teach nor live by the faith of others. I must live by my own faith, as the Spirit of the Lord has taught me through his word.

Here you have my admonition. The Lord grant that you may follow it in all love, peace and unity. Do not be too hard nor yet too lenient. Excommunication is instituted for reformation and not for corruption. O, that all were of one mind with me in this matter! How discreetly the ban would be practiced in this respect. But as it is, everyone follows his own inclinations and imagines them to be Spirit and Scripture.

O Lord, grant them your Spirit and wisdom, that they may see and judge rightly, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” Ephesians 4, verse 3. Beloved brothers, follow my advice, for God’s sake; for it will cause many souls to rejoice. The Spirit of wisdom be with you to eternity. Amen.

Your unworthy brother,

MENNO SIMON.

November the 12th, in the year 1556.